True measure symbolizes God’s truth; justice; and honesty. Wherever we are, and in whatever we do, we will account to God for our deeds. The standard of truth, justice or honesty is Christ Jesus himself. He must be our benchmark. 1Corinthians 10: 31 says so, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Paul wrote in Colossians 3 16-17, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.
In the above scripture, we must be able to give thanks in righteousness to God at the end of every deed of ours. We cannot thank God for evils we commit, directly or indirectly but for good works that glorifies God. Giving thanks to God through Jesus also presupposes that our deeds were through Christ Jesus. Consequently, we must associate Christ with our true measure and not wrong measure. We cannot give thanks to God when we do evil.
Warnings against cheating and dishonesty
The Israelites had resorted in Amos 8: 5-7 to violating the rights of the needy, dishonesty in their trade, cheating the poor on both the quality and quantity of their items sold, desecrating the Sabbath rather than holiness, engaging in human trade and buying them for pittance, selling remnants of poor and rejected wheat to the unsuspecting public. God who saw their heinous deeds.
Effect of cheating on our lives
In Amos 8: 4, God said hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land. He continued in Amos 8: 7, surely I will never forget any of their deeds. Any deed which is not in accord with God’s nature is punishable. God said in Amos 8: 10-13, I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on your loins, and baldness on every head; I will make it like the morning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day… and famine of the words of the LORD. Dishonesty, cheating etc. are products of greed. Ezekiel 22: 13 says see, I strike my hands together at the dishonest gain you have made, and at the blood that has been shed within you.
Effects of cheating on the land
When God punishes us for cheating etc. both our person and our land suffer for the evil we have done. Proverbs 13: 34 says righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. We cannot remain evil yet expect our land to be blessed, there will be no incentive for repentance. Ezekiel 45: 10 says you shall have honest balances, an honest ephah, and an honest bath. We are challenged to do what ought to be done, rather than what is being done. God asked in Micah 6: 11 can I tolerate wicked scales and a bag of dishonest weights? We are to be faithful to our call to be honest and true in all our deeds.
What is God’s standard for us?
God said in Leviticus 19: 36, you shall have honest balances, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest him: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt because he wanted justice for them. In like manner, they were not to execute evil or injustice against the needy and the poor just as was done to them in Egypt for which they cried to God.
Deuteronomy 25: 15-16 states, you shall have only full and honest weight; you shall have only a full and honest measure, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are abhorrent to the LORD your God. Are we honest in our dealings with God and our neighbours? To what extent are we influenced by greed and love for money?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, keep us away from the love and influence of money. Help us to accept that the salvation of our souls does not rest on money but faithfulness. Let our cravings for money and wealth be a thing of the past as we confess to you for forgiveness. Let righteousness be our wealth and craving. Where we are tempted to cheat, strengthen us to be faithful and true. Let righteousness be our currency. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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